FREELAND, MI — The first flight out of the new $55 million passenger terminal at MBS International Airport takes off at 6 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31.

The first passengers will notice a few changes from the old terminal. First, bags will be checked behind the scenes, rather than in the open. About 10,000 additional square feet will be dedicated to security. Some features are similar to the old terminal. Passengers still will collect their bags from motorized carousels at the front of the terminal, and parking is located directly in front of the building.

Readers had differing opinions on whether the Great Lakes Bay Region needed the new terminal, which replaces a building constructed in 1965.

"Now that I have seen it, I have to say it is absolutely beautiful; well-planned, and easily accessible. A real asset to the MBS are (not Great Lakes Bay Area -- wherever that is!)

My only hope is that they can attract a few more airlines, and offer a few direct flights to popular destinations. Right now, that's only a hope."

Commenter jitney said building a new terminal at MBS was the wrong choice.

"So far, all I see is wasted money. MINE and yours. I will still drive to Flint. There is NO airline choice at MBS. Having a concession stand does not out-weigh bargains, fewer stops, higher priced tickets (for less than 30 miles) and easy parking offered in Flint. Imagine this - when "Betty" ran the place we had almost 1 million passengers a year."

"The old airport terminal was dated, but in good condition. Surely they could have made some updates to it, like having food after security etc. and saved many millions of dollars - this is a micro problem that when you factor in how many times it is done you can easily appreciate why our country is in economic turmoil."

Commenter sun1972 suggested the airport is used mostly for business travel, writing:

"If anything Dow helps keep prices down. Leisure travels are more likely to drive to Flint than business travelers."